State ethics panel dismisses complaint against Henderson councilman

The Nevada Commission on Ethics on Wednesday dismissed a 2023 complaint against Henderson City Councilman and former Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Sheriff Jim Seebock over the use of his police uniform while campaigning for a public office.

The eight-member panel’s decision cleared Seebock of accused violations of the state’s ethics laws.

Commissioners noted that since at least Dec. 21, 2023, Seebock has not been the subject of another ethics complaint that has been reviewed by the commission’s review panel.

The decision was reached through a stipulated deferral and dismissal agreement that also said Seebock has voluntarily sought ethics training and asked the commission for help with ethics questions since becoming a Henderson councilman.

Seebock’s attorney Sam Mirkovich said at Wednesday’s meeting the finding was “absolutely the right one,” and Seebock celebrated the ruling in a statement released by a spokesperson shortly after the decision.

Seebock deferred to the statement when reached by phone Wednesday.

“I want to thank the Nevada Commission of Ethics on their due diligence concerning an ethics complaint filed against me three years ago,” the statement said. “Today’s complete dismissal reflects no violation was ever committed and I stand fully exonerated.”

The Ethics Commission announced in June 2023 that it was investigating the complaint against Seebock, alleging that his campaign sent mail to voters with a photo of Seebock, who retired after 30 years at Metro, in his uniform and badge.

Nevada’s ethics law states a “public officer or employee shall not use the public officer’s or employee’s position in government to secure or grant unwarranted privileges, preferences, exemptions or advantages for the public officer.”

Although the panel had previously cited a 2019 letter sent to the Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association about how law enforcement uniforms could not be used when campaigning, including for one’s self, commissioners on Wednesday pointed to similar cases that have been resolved, including a 2021 complaint against Gov. Joe Lombardo. Commissioners had agreed to delay making a determination in Seebock’s case until those cases were decided, according to the agreement.

The ethics case against Lombardo, who served two terms as Clark County sheriff and was also accused of using his uniform and badge in campaign advertisements, ended in September.

In that case, the governor admitted to a non-willful violation of ethics law and agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.

Contact Casey Harrison at charrison@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on X, @Casey_Harrison1.